Data connecting method, data connecting apparatus, program recording medium

ABSTRACT

A data relay processing method where an available transmission band is partially reserved, partially assigned or partially exchanged between multiple communication terminals. Pieces of information are communicated between the multiple terminals. Such information includes a schedule of a term in which the transmission band is available, and a communication price that is charged to terminals in exchange for the usage of the transmission band. A schedule of transmission band usage and history of transmission band usage are utilized to efficiently reserve, assign or exchange the transmission band.

This Application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/491,124 filed Jan. 26, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,636,481.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to, for example, a data relay processingmethod for determining allocations or the like of transmission bands innetworks, a data relay processing unit and a program recording medium.

The present invention also relates to an information drop method and aninformation drop unit for selecting important information to betransmitted.

2. Related Art of the Invention

In the Internet a protocol (for example a protocol called RSVP) formaking a band reservation has been proposed conventionally, but routecontrol according to QoS (transmission quality) hasn't been considered.That is to say in the present Internet transmission quality such astransmission bands, delays and jitters are reserved in advance andtransmission resources are reserved on a predetermined transmissionroute.

Therefore, in the case that there are extra transmission bands of anetwork, the resources of the whole network cannot be uses effectivelywith some cases where unused routes exist. To solve this problem asystem where QoS routing (route control) is available has been proposedconventionally.

For example, “QoS routing unit” (Japanese patent applicationH7(1995)-315558) by Atsushi Iwata can be cited. According to theconventional system, transmission bands, delays, jitters or the like aredefined as QoS and a routing unit is proposed which is able to searchroutes satisfying the requirements of QoS that are expected to besatisfied in sequence.

In the above described conventional system, however, the followingproblems (1) and (2) are cited.

That is to say problem (1): the conventional system is a method forreserving in advance fixed transmission bands (for example, a band of 20Mbps) at the time of transmission resource reservation. Namely, forexample, at the time a transmission band of 20 Mbps is reserved, even inthe case that it is understood in advance that a used band of 10 Mbps isgoing to decrease after a certain period of time, transmission by theband of 20 Mbps which has been used so far is stopped once andtransmission is carried out by newly reserving a band of 10 Mbps aftersaid certain period of time.

This is because there is no method for reflecting the usage plan or theusage record of the network resources by other users, and even in thecase where there are scheduled to be, or tend to be, extra networkresources those extra network resources will not be used, therefore,efficiency of the usage of the whole of the network resources cannot beexpected to improve.

Problem (2): in the case that a plurality of transmission resources areselectable at the time of transmission resource reservation, it used tobe difficult to improve the usage effectiveness of the transmissionroute while controlling the setting of the communication price becausethere was no such thing as a reference based on the idea that thecommunication price is adjusted among resources where the reservation ofthe transmission resources are available. When searching a route, evenif the load of the terminal carrying out relay processing of data ishigh, a large amount of time is spent for data relay processing in thecase that a relay terminal with a high load is selected as a searchobject because there is a possibility it maybe selected as an object ofa search of data relay processing.

On the other hand, a system for controlling traffic amount by performingpacket drop according to the load of the network following the priorityattached to the Internet protocol packet has been proposedconventionally (IETF: Internet Engineering Task Force, RFC2597,RFC2598).

In this conventional system, however, said priority is determined byjudging whether the contents are important or not based on the type ofstreams such as image signals or speech signals, or control signals(Microsoft Inc.: ASF; Advanced Streaming Format).

Accordingly, in the conventional system, there's a problem (3) that theprocessing lacks flexibility because only the types of streams arefocused on.

For example, a method for making the importance level to the terminals,to the types of image or speech frames (I, P, B) or to set unit of thoseframes in a certain range (for example GOB: Group Of Block in MPEG1)correspond to the Internet protocol packets is not set therefore thereis a problem (3) that more important information cannot be selectedflexibly to be transmitted by giving a higher priority to each terminalimportant image frame or speech part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the purpose of the present invention as listed one to thirteenthat considering such problems (1) and (2) with the above mentionedconventional unit, a data relay processing method, a data relayprocessing unit, and program recording medium are provided so as to beable to further increase the usage efficiency of resources in the wholenetwork compared to conventional ways.

For that purpose, one aspect of the present invention is a data relayprocessing method wherein, in the case that at least one piece ofinformation is sent from respective terminals, among a piece ofinformation on schedule of usage of transmission band, another piece ofinformation on schedule of transmission band which is able to beassigned, another piece of information on schedule of a term where antransmission band is able to be assigned or exchanged, and another pieceinformation on a necessary cost when a transmission band is assigned orexchanged, the sent information is held, and

wherein said respective schedules of said respective terminals arereceived, based on at least said information from another terminal whichis previously held, said transmission band is reserved, assigned orexchanged or said communication price is determined.

Another aspect of the present invention is a data relay processingmethod wherein, based on history information of the past processingrecord with respect to processes of assigning or exchanging of thetransmission band between respective terminals and based on informationwith respect to said transmission band, said transmission band isreserved, assigned or exchanged or a communication price is determined.

Still another aspect of the present invention is a data relay processingmethod, wherein said history information is announced in said respectiveterminals, and intervals between the announcements are adjustable.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a data relay processingmethod, wherein said history information is renewed at predeterminedtime intervals or in accordance with whether said assigning orexchanging are possible or not.

Still yet another aspect of the present invention is a data relayprocessing method wherein, in the case that there exists a transmissionband utilized by reserving a transmission band, and a transmission bandutilized without reserving a transmission band, information on usagefrequency of the transmission band utilized by reserving saidtransmission band is defined by dependence information, and based on thedependence information and information with respect to said transmissionband is reserved, assigned or exchanged or a communication price isdetermined.

A further aspect of the present invention is a data relay processingmethod characterized in that, in the case that there exist atransmission band utilized by reserving the transmission band and atransmission band utilized without reserving the transmission band,information on usage frequency of said transmission band utilized byreserving the transmission band is defined as a dependence information,intervals of announcements of said dependence information is controlledsaid transmission band is reserved assigned or exchanged orcommunication price is determined.

A still further aspect of the present invention is a data relayprocessing method wherein said dependence information is renewed atpredetermined intervals.

A yet further aspect of the present invention is a data relay processingmethod wherein in the case that there exist more than two transmissionresources respective that make either one of the processes of reserving,assigning or exchanging transmission bands possible, by utilizinginformation on goodness of fit exhibiting a possibility of beingselected at least for each of said transmission resources that is ableto be processed and information on deadline time of said selection, saidtransformation resources are selected or a communication price isadjusted.

A still yet another aspect of the present invention is a data relayprocessing method for controlling announcement intervals of routeinformation for relaying data based on at least one piece of informationamong loads of terminals for carrying out data processing, a buffercapacity utilized for data processing, transmission quality, andavailable transmission band.

An additional aspect of the present invention is a data relay processingmethod for controlling announcement intervals of at least one piece ofinformation, based on at least one piece of information among loads ofterminals for carrying out data processing, a buffer capacity utilizedfor data processing, transmission quality, and available transmissionband, among said loads of terminals for carrying out data processing,said buffer capacity utilized for data processing, said transmissionquality, and said available transmission band.

A still additional aspect of the present invention is a data relayprocessing unit comprising: a transmission band management means whereinin the case that at least any one piece of information is sent fromrespective terminals, among a piece of information on schedule of usageof transmission band, another piece of information on schedule oftransmission band which is able to be assigned, another piece ofinformation on schedule of a term where an information band is able tobe assigned or exchanged, and another piece information on a necessarycost when a transmission band is assigned or exchanged, saidtransmission band management means holding and managing the sentinformation; and

a transmission band reservation management means wherein in the casethat said respective schedules of said respective terminals arereceived, based on at least said information from at least anotherterminal which is previously held by said transmission band managementmeans, said transmission band reservation management means reserving,assigning or exchanging a transmission band or determining acommunication price.

According to the above described configurations, transmission bands canbe allocated or communication price can be determined corresponding, forexample, to usage conditions of transmission quality or resources(transmission band) of the network.

A yet additional aspect of the present invention is a data relay unitcomprising: packet classification rules for classifying packets, apacket classification means for classifying packets based on said packetclassification rules, band reservation rules for managing rules forreserving transmission bands, and a band reservation means for reservingtransmission bands based on said band reservation rules and the resultsof packet classification.

A still yet additional aspect of the present invention is a data relayunit comprising priority addition rules for managing rules for addingpriority information, priority adding means for adding priority,priority processing rules for managing rules of the processing method ofpriority and a priority processing means for carrying out priorityprocessing based on added priority. A supplementary aspect of thepresent invention is an information drop method comprising:

an input step for inputting contents in which at least a plurality oftypes of priorities which are used when the contents are processed areadded;

a correspondence making step for dividing said contents into packets ofthe Internet protocol and making priorities of a plurality of types ofsaid contents correspond to a priority field of packets of said Internetprotocol;

a step for classifying said packets to, which said priority is made tocorrespond, into drop classes having at least two or more different dropprobabilities based on said priority that is made to correspond; and

a drop step for dropping said packet in accordance with the network loadbased on said drop classes.

A still supplementary aspect of the present invention is an informationdrop unit comprising:

an input means for inputting contents in which at least a plurality oftypes of priorities are added when the contents are processed;

a priority corresponding management means making step for dividing saidcontents into packets of the Internet protocol and making priorities ofa plurality of types of said contents correspond to a priority field ofpackets of said Internet protocol;

a classification means for classifying said packets to which saidpriority is made to correspond, into drop classes having at least two ormore different drop probabilities based on said priority that is made tocorrespond; and

a drop means for dropping said packet in accordance with the networkload based on said drop classes.

A yet supplementary aspect of the present invention is an informationdrop method comprising:

an input step for inputting contents in which at least a plurality oftypes of priorities are added when the contents are processed;

a correspondence making step for dividing said contents into packets ofthe Internet protocol and making priorities of a plurality of types ofsaid contents correspond to a priority field of packets of said Internetprotocol;

a first classification step for classifying said packets to which saidpriority is made to correspond, into first drop classes according topreviously assigned rules;

a second classification step for classifying packets classified as such,into second drop classes having at least two or more different dropprobabilities provided in said first drop class, based on said prioritymade to correspond; and

a drop step for dropping said packets in accordance with the networkloads based on said first and second drop classes.

A still yet supplementary aspect of the present invention is aninformation drop unit comprising:

an input means for inputting contents in which at least a plurality oftypes of priorities are added when the contents are processed;

a priority corresponding management means for dividing said contentsinto packets of the Internet protocol and making priorities of aplurality of types of said contents correspond to a priority field ofpackets of said Internet protocol;

a first drop class management means for classifying said packets towhich said priority is made to correspond, into first drop classesaccording to previously assigned rules;

a second drop class management means for classifying packets classifiedas such, into second drop classes having at least two or more differentdrop probabilities provided in said first drop class based on saidpriority made to correspond; and

a drop means for dropping said packets in accordance with the networkloads based on said first and second drop classes.

Another aspect of the present invention is an information drop methodcharacterized by comprising:

an input step for inputting contents in which at least a plurality oftypes of priorities are added when the contents are processed;

a correspondence making step for dividing said contents into packets ofthe Internet protocols, and for making a plurality of types ofpriorities of said contents correspond individually to a priority fieldof packets of said Internet protocol independently;

a first classification step for classifying said packets, to which saidpriority correspond is made correspond, into a first drop class based onone of said plurality of types of priorities being made to correspond;

a second classification step for classifying packets, which has beenclassified in such a way, into a second drop class having at least twoor more different drop probabilities provided in said first drop classbased on other priorities than said plurality of types of prioritieswhich have been made to correspond;

a drop step for dropping said packets according to the network loadsbased on said first and second drop classes.

Still another aspect of the present invention is an information dropunit characterized by comprising:

an input means for inputting contents in which at least a plurality oftypes of priorities are added when the contents are processed;

a priority corresponding management means making step for dividing saidcontents into packets of the Internet protocols, and for making aplurality of types of priorities of said contents correspondindividually to a priority field of packets of said Internet protocolindependently;

a first drop class management means for classifying said packets, towhich said priority correspond is made correspond, into a first dropclass based on one of said plurality of types of priorities being madeto correspond;

a second drop class management step for classifying packets, which hasbeen classified in such a way, into a second drop class having at leasttwo or more different drop probabilities provided in said first dropclass based on other priorities than said plurality of types ofpriorities which have been made to correspond;

a drop means for dropping said packets according to the network loadsbased on said first and second drop classes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a data relay processing unit forcarrying out data relay;

FIG. 2 shows a diagram for describing a method of determiningreservation, assign, and communication price of the transmission bandwhere a assign of the transmission band is used;

FIG. 3 shows a diagram for explaining a method for determiningreservation, exchange and communication price of the transmission bandwhere an exchange of the transmission band is used;

FIG. 4 shows a diagram for describing a method of determiningreservation, assign, exchange and communication price of thetransmission band based on the processing record of assign or exchangeprocessing of the transmission band which was carried out in the past;

FIG. 5 shows a diagram for describing reservation, assign and exchangemethod of the transmission band utilizing the frequency of use oftransmission band available for the transmission band reservation;

FIG. 6 shows a diagram for describing a method of adjustingcommunication price among resources available for reservation of thetransmission resources in the case that a plurality of transmissionresources are selectable at the time of transmission resourcereservation;

FIG. 7 shows a diagram for describing information in processingconditions managed by the data relay processing unit;

FIG. 8 shows a diagram with respect to an occupied circuit control unitfor managing allocation conditions of the resources of a data relayunit;

FIG. 9 shows a diagram for describing information managed by an occupiedcircuit control unit;

FIG. 10( a) is a diagram for describing a dispersion-type in therelationship between an occupied circuit control unit and a data relayprocessing unit;

FIG. 10( b) is a diagram for describing a collective-type in therelationship between an occupied circuit control unit and a data relayprocessing unit;

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart for describing a method for solvingcompetition in the case of the occurrence of the competition for bandreservation between more than one terminal.

FIGS. 12( a) and (b) show a diagram describing relationships between adata relay processing unit and an occupied circuit control unit;

FIG. 13 shows a diagram describing a method of making band reservationaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows a diagram for describing a method of adding priorityinformation to IP packets;

FIG. 15 shows a diagram for describing a method of adding priorityinformation with a terminal unit carrying out information dispatch;

FIG. 16 shows a diagram for describing a method of adding priority;

FIG. 17 shows a block diagram with respect to an information drop unitfor carrying out packet drop according to the processing priority addedto the contents in accordance with the first mode of the presentinvention;

FIG. 18 shows a diagram for describing a basic operation of DiffServ inthe above first mode;

FIG. 19 shows a diagram for describing a method of making the priorityof the contents correspond to IP packets according to said first mode;

FIG. 20 shows a diagram for describing the operation of the informationdrop unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 21 shows the second mode according to the present invention, whichis a block diagram for describing the information drop unit for droppingIP packets according to the priority added to the contents afterclassification to the pre-assigned drop class;

FIG. 22 shows a diagram for describing the operation of the informationdrop unit shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 23 shows the third mode according to the present invention, whichis a diagram for describing a method of making a plurality of prioritiescorrespond to IP packets independently; and

FIG. 24 shows a representative configuration view illustrative a typicalexample of the mode according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTIONS OF NUMERALS

-   1, 501 priority correspondence management part-   2 drop class management part-   30 contents-   31 video stream-   32 audio stream-   33 priority of IP packets-   34, 71 priority of streams-   35, 72 priority of frames-   41, 61,73 priority of IP packets-   42, 62 written address-   43 classification-   63 predetermined classification-   74 classification based on the priority of streams-   75 classification based on the priority of frames-   100 data relay processing unit-   101 data reception part-   102 data transmission determination part-   103 data transmission part-   104 transmission band management part-   105 transmission band reservation management part-   106 control part-   110 terminal unit A-   111 terminal unit B-   112 terminal unit C-   121 server 1-   122 server 2-   301 reservation status management part-   302 arrangement status management part-   303 occupied circuit management part-   304 occupied circuit control part-   502 first drop class management part-   503 second drop class management part-   1001-1003 occupied circuit management unit-   1011-1013 data relay processing unit-   1101 band management part-   1102 packet classification rules-   1103 packet classification part-   1104 band reservation rules-   1105 band reservation part-   1106 priority addition rules-   1107 priority addition part-   1108 priority processing rules-   1109 priority processing part-   1110 priority processing control part-   1111 terminal unit

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The first to the thirteenth modes according to the present invention isdescribed referring to the drawings in the following.

FIG. 1 shows a view of a configuration of a data relay processing unit(or simply called a “relay unit”) for carrying out data relay. First, aconfiguration of the mode according to the present invention isdescribed using the Fig. The data that is the object of the present modeis image, text, speech or the like.

That is to say, as shown in FIG. 1, the data relay processing unit 100comprises a data reception part 101 for receiving data, a datatransmission determination part 102 for determining where the data istransmitted according to the address written in the data (for example,IP address in the case of Internet protocol) and a data transmissionpart 103 for transmitting the data.

The data reception part 101 for receiving data and the data transmissionpart 103 may have as objects packet exchanges represented as Ethernet oras objects circuit exchanges such as ISDN. The data reception part 101and the data transmission part 103 do not necessarily have the samecommunication interface.

And the data transmission determination part 102 determines thecommunication interface to be outputted in the case that a plurality ofcommunication interfaces exist at the data output part.

Functions of the data reception unit 101, the data transmissiondetermination part 102, and the data transmission part 103 correspond tothe router in the case of packet exchange to switch board in the case ofcircuit exchange.

It is also possible for the data relay processing unit 100 to use amethod for carrying out band reservation at the level of a unique bandreservation method which is not standardized or the level of RSVPstandardized in the Internet field or the level of the ATM(asynchronized assign mode) or the level of the data link layer.

In addition, the data relay processing unit 100 makes it possible toassign or exchange a part, or all, of the band previously reserved andcomprises a transmission band management part 104 for managinginformation with respect to the transmission band assigned or exchangedin the past or the transmission band presently being assigned or beingexchanged. The transmission band reservation management part 105determines reservation, assign, and exchange of the transmission band ordecides the communication price based on the above mentioned informationmanaged by the transmission band management part 104.

For example, the communication cost will be held at a low level for theusers using the band that is able to receive the assign of the bandpositively. And the data relay processing unit 100 comprises a relaycontrol part 106 for controlling and managing each of those parts.

To the data relay processing unit 100 a plurality of terminal unit A(110), B (111), and C (112) and a server 1 (121) and a server 2 (122)are connected respectively (see FIG. 1).

In the present mode due to the above configuration it can be expectedthat information on assign for each reserved band or each data relayprocessing unit is used for the determination whether or not a new bandreservation is possible or is used for the determination of thecommunication price so as to prevent the unfairness of the usage of thetransmission band or rapid deterioration of the transmission quality.This will be describe in further detail in the following.

Next, with respect to the above mentioned configuration the operation ofthe present mode is described and one mode of a data relay processingmethod according to the present invention is listed in reference to thedrawings.

First, using FIG. 2 a method for determining reservation, assign andcommunication price of the transmission band utilizing assign of thetransmission band is described.

The conventional method is the method for reserving a fixed transmissionband in advance at the time of transmission resource reservation. In theconventional method, a usage schedule of the network resources cannot bereflected and extra network resources cannot be utilized even if thenetwork resources are scheduled to be, or tend to be, in excess,therefore the usage efficiency cannot be expected to increase for all ofthe network resources.

On the contrary, in the present mode, information on a period when thetransmission band is able to be assigned and the necessary costs whichare sent from each of the terminal A to C are held by the transmissionband control part 104. And the transmission band reservation controlpart 105 manages the transmission band and the communication price basedon the usage schedule by the user of the transmission band by utilizingthe information held in the above at the time of transmission bandreservation as a usage plan of the network resources. Thereby the usageefficiency of the transmission party can be expected to improve.

FIG. 2 shows the information, which is related to the usage schedule ofthe transmission band from that point in time forward and the time zonewhere the assign is available, held in the transmission band managementpart 104, that is transmitted from the terminal unit A and the terminalunit B.

As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal A requires a transmission band of 10Mbps during the period of time from 0 hours to 5 hours after the bandreservation has been made and the period of time from 7 hours to 15hours after the band reservation has been made, and requires atransmission band of 1 Mbps during the period of time from 5 hours to 7hours after the band reservation has been made. Here it is presumed thata assign is available during the period of time from 5 hours to 7 hoursafter the band reservation has been made and the cost of carrying outthe assign is 100,000 yen per hour (as for cost a system may be appliedthat varies according to amount of time).

By carrying out the assign based on the cost the fairness of theopportunities for carrying out the assign can be expected to increase.As shown in the example in the Fig, even in the situations where only 15M of transmission band out of the entry transmission path is available,effective usage of the transmission path can be expected by mutuallyassigning the transmission bands between the terminal A and the terminalB. The assign may be carrier out among three or more parties.

To write down a variety of schedules for determining reservation, assignor exchange of the transmission band or the communication price, byappointing the term of the usage schedule of the transmission band withrespect to a relative time it becomes easy to correct the usage scheduleof the transmission band even when the starting time of the usageschedule is changed. In the present invention, as for an example of arelative time, 5 hours after the present point (the terminal A . . .from 0 hours to 5 hours after the band reservation has been made) isused as an expression.

That is to say, just by changing the starting time the term of thescheduled usage need not be changed. On the other hand the absolute timeexpression represents a time expression defined uniquely such as 14:00,Apr. 1, 1999.

By appointing the starting point of the schedule usage of thetransmission band with an offset time of the start of usage, thestarting term (relative time) of the scheduled usage can be changed toan absolute time expression, therefore, it becomes easy to adjust thetime of start. For example, the offset value of start of usage is 14:00and when the term of scheduled usage is 2 hours in relative time, thetime of usage is expressed as from 14:00 to 16:00.

In addition, by appointing the extension of the scheduled usage term ofthe transmission band with the offset time, the assignment of time caneasily be changed. For example, when it is presumed that the offsetvalue at the start of usage is 14:00 and the term of scheduled usage is2 hours in relative time and the offset value of the extended time is 1hour then the time of usage is expressed as from 14:00 to 17:00. For theexpression of offset time the expression of minus may be used, and theoffset value may be properly changed according to the usage status.Those methods of time expressions can be applied to the embodiments ofclaims 1 to 8 claim 11 in the same way.

In the case that a terminal C of the third party newly sends reservationinformation on a transmission band to the data relay processing unit100, the transmission management part 104 provides transmission bandinformation which is able to be assigned of the terminal which issuitable for the usage conditions of terminal C based on managementinformation shown in FIG. 2, and in the case that the terminal C agreeswith the assign price that is provided then the usage schedule of thetransmission band from that point in time on of the terminal C isdetermined by the transmission band reservation management part 105.

In this way, by using information on transmission band width which isable to be assigned of the transmission band, information on a termwhich is able to be assigned, and information on necessary cost for theassigning, the transmission band reservation management part 105 permitsthe reservation, or assigns the transmission band or determines acommunication price based on the usage schedule of the transmission bandso that the usage effect of the transmission path can be expected to beimproved. The terminal may be given a reservation permission of thetransmission band in accordance with the ratio which the transmissionband is able to be assigned to.

Next, by using FIG. 3 a method for reserving or exchanging thetransmission band or determining a communication price utilizing theexchange of the transmission band is described.

The exchange of the transmission band means to exchange a part of, orall of, the transmission band which is being used under the mutuallydetermined conditions (term, cost). In an example of the Fig, theterminal A and the terminal B are connected to the server 1 and theserver 2, respectively, with 10 Mbps. Under these conditions neither theserver 1 nor the server 2 can afford the transmission band for acceptingnew connection requests.

By mutually exchanging 2M, which is a part of the band that terminal Ais using, and 2M, which is a part of the band that terminal B is using,terminal A is able to be connected to the server 2 and the terminal B isable to be connected to the server 1.

The information that the exchange of the transmission band haveinformation of transmission band width required at the time ofreservation of the transmission band, information on exchangeabletransmission band width of the transmission band, information of a termwhere the transmission band is able to be exchanged and information on anecessary cost when the transmission band is exchanged in the same wayas the described contents with respect to assigning of the band (notnecessarily at the time of transmission band reservation but may be atthe point in time when the possibility of the band exchange occurs) andthe exchange of the transmission is performed by using those piece ofinformation.

In the case that a new band request occurs at the terminal, when theallocation of a new band is impossible, the bands may be exchanged oreven in the case that a new request for gaining a band doesn't occur,the communication cost may be eliminated by the exchange of the bands.The band may be exchanged not only between 2 but among 3 or more.

Next, FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing a method for reserving,assigning or exchanging the transmission band or determining thecommunication price based on the processing record of the processing inthe past of assigning or exchanging of the transmission bands.

Using the Fig an example of assigning of the transmission band isdescribed. Information on complete assigning is shown in FIG. 4.

In the example of the Fig, numerals are allocated for reserved bands and“presently reserved band,” “number of times of assign,” “sum of bandsassigned,” “effective term of information of assign” are shown for eachreserved band. Those pieces of information are called information onassign with respect to bands in the present invention. The rest of thebands which are able to be allocated are shown.

In the example of the Fig, in the case of being assigned from the otherterminals the value becomes negative (in the case of band numeral 2).

The number of assigns may be for each reserved band, or a reservation ofassign bands may be determined in accordance with the assign situationor the communication price may be determined by using the assign numberfor each data relay transmission unit. By using the “sum of bandsassigned” information, it is processed in the same way.

Information of assign may be summed up for each user or may be summed upfor each relay unit. By using information on “effective term ofinformation on assign” it can be treated without being influencedgreatly by the previous old information. In the case that the effectiveterm is expired, the information on assign may be initialized ormodified. Initialization or modification may be carried out inaccordance with whether the actual assign is possible or not.

Information on assign maybe varied in a number of ways in a mannerreflecting the past processing record by controlling the intervals whenthe information on the past records are announced (this is simply calledan advertisement interval). The shorter the advertisement interval theeasier the past processing records can be reflected in the reservationof the transmission band or the determination of communication price,but the information amount occurring for the advertisement becomes aproblem. In the present mode, the assign of the transmission band isdescribed but the exchange of the assign bands can be realized in thesame way.

As for a method for controlling the range (achieved distance) ofannouncing the past records, the value of TTL (Time To Live) can beutilized in the Internet protocol. The value of TTL is reduced wheneverthe router is passed (when the value becomes 0 information on the pastrecords won't propagate). In the system for controlling the achieveddistance, TTL need not be used but the achieved distance may becontrolled in the same way by the application unit. In addition, as fora means for announcing the past records a communication method ofPoint-to-Point, multicast or broadcast may be used.

A control method of the achieved distance may be applied in the same wayfor embodiments according to Claims 5, 6, 9, and 10. In addition, notonly information of assign but also route information for relaying data,values of loads of terminals carrying out data processing, a buffercapacity used for data processing, transmission quality and availabletransmission band width may be reported to other neighboring terminalsby controlling the achieved distance according to the values of routinginformation for relaying those pieces of data, loads of terminals forcarrying out data processing, a buffer capacity utilized for dataprocessing, transmission quality and available transmission band width.

Next, by using FIG. 5 reservation assign and exchange methods of thetransmission bands using frequency of the usage of transmission bandswhich is able to reserve transmission bands is described.

In an example of the same Fig, the usage amount of the transmission bandutilized by reserving the transmission band, the used amount of thetransmission band used without reserving the transmission band and aratio of terminals using the reservation-type band are represented foreach terminal.

In an example of the same Fig, the terminal A uses 10M as areservation-type band and 2M as a non-reservation-type band. The ratiois defined as a value of the usage amount being utilized as areservation-type band divided by the usage amount of anon-reservation-type band. In the case of terminal A the ratio is 5.This value represents the dependence of the reservation-type band.

The reservation-type band and the non-reservation-type band may be mixedin the same transmission path or may assign a different transmissionpath as an object. For example, in the case of a terminal with a highdependence of the reservation-type band the reservation of thereservation-type band can be rejected or unfairness of the usage of thetransmission band can be reduced by setting the communication price forreservation at a high rate.

Information of dependence can be varied in numerous ways in a reflectionmanner of the past processing records by controlling the advertisementrecords. The shorter the advertising intervals the easier thetransmission band of the past processing records may be reserved intransmission bands or communication price may be determined, but theinformation amount occurring for the advertisement becomes a problem.

By setting and using information on “effective term of information ondependence” it can be treated so as not to be influenced greatly by theprevious old information. In the case that the effective term is expiredthe information on dependence may be initialized or modified.

Next, by using FIG. 6, in the case that a plurality of transmissionresources are selectable at the time of transmission resourceinformation, a method for adjusting communication price among resourcesthat are able to be reserved in the transmission resources is described.

In a conventional system, in the case that a plurality of transmissionresources are selectable at the time of transmission resourcereservation, it is difficult to improve the usage efficiency of thetransmission path while controlling the setting of the communicationprice because there are no frames for adjusting communication pricebetween resources that are able to be reserved in the transmissionresource.

On the contrary, in the present mode, in the case that a plurality oftransmission resources are selectable when reserving the transmissionresource (band), the usage efficiency of the transmission path isimproved by reporting the goodness of fit among resources that are ableto be reserved in the transmission resource using information ongoodness of fit showing the possibility of selection for eachtransmission resource that is able to be processed and information ondeadline time of the selection, and by preventing the setting ofcommunication price from being high when the resource is being utilized.

For example in the same Fig, the case is described when, as a relay unitwhere the terminal A is able to be relayed, relays 1 to 3 are cited. Acommunication price per 1 hour in the case when all the bands which areallocable have been allocated, allocable band width, and cost necessaryper 1 M are represented as goodness of fit. The terminal which hasissued the band request determines the relay unit to relayed based onthe goodness of fit. When a modification of the goodness of fit occurswithin the determined time period, the modification may be possible andcommunication price is proposed mutually between data relay units sothat a sudden surge in communication price can be controlled.

For the calculation of the goodness of fit the information of bandwidthof communication need not necessarily be used.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a diagram for describing information on processingconditions that the data relay processing unit controls.

The conventional problem described above cites that plenty of time isneeded to be spent for data relay processing in the case that a relayterminal with high loads is selected as a search object because there isa possibility of selection as an object for data relay processing searcheven when the load of the terminal carrying out data relay processing ishigh at the time of route search.

To deal with this problem by changing advertisement intervals of theroute information according to the processing conditions of the datarelay processing terminal (load of the terminal, buffer capacityutilized for data processing, available transmission band width andtransmission quality), it becomes easy to eliminate terminals forcarrying out data relay processing of the overload from the objects ofrelay terminals.

By doing this, it becomes possible to easily select terminals for datarelay processing without a high load to carry out data relay processing,therefore the usage efficiency of the transmission path for the entirenetwork can be expected to be increased.

In an example of the same Fig, for each data relay processing unit, loadconditions for each data relay processing unit (the load may be definedas the remaining capacity of the buffer for processing packets or may bedefined as a processor load for processing data), a delay or jittercaused by the processing at the data relay processing unit (for example,feeding allocation processing), packet loss, information on whether theband reservation is receivable or not, notification intervals ofprocessing conditions for those data relay processing units effectiveterm of information on reported processing conditions are managed.

For example, in the case of data relay processing unit 1, the load ofthe relay unit is 10%, a delay-jitter is 500 msec, the packet loss is0%, the band reservation is receivable and the notification intervals ofthe information on those data relay units is every 50 seconds. And theeffective term of those pieces of information is 100 seconds and thosepieces of information are reported to other data relay processing units.

As for the notification method, a multicast communication method may beused or it may be reported by carrying out one on one communication. Atthe same time information on reserved bands may be reported to otherdata relay processing units with its own data relay processing unit. Inaccordance with the processing conditions of the data relay processingunit, the notification intervals of information on the processingconditions of the data relay processing units can be verified so thatthe load of the data relay processing unit may be expected to bereduced.

For example, by lengthening the notification intervals of the data relayprocessing units with overload, it becomes possible to put it away as anobject of the data relay, therefore it can be expected that the load ofthe data relay processing unit can be reduced.

Next, by using FIGS. 8 to 12 a method for reserving transmission bandsand a method for assigning are described more concretely with theexamples of reservation and assign of the transmission band. And thepresent mode can be implemented in the same way when exchanging thetransmission band.

FIG. 8 shows a diagram with respect to an occupied circuit managementunit 801 for managing the allocation conditions of resources of the datarelay unit. The data is relayed according to the addresses written thedata (for example IP address in the case of Internet protocol) so thatthe allocation conditions of the resources of the data relay processingunit 31, which is able to reserve the transmission band, becomes anobject of management. The occupied circuit management unit 801 comprisesa reservation condition management part 301 for managing the reservationconditions for each data relay processing unit, an arrangement conditionmanagement part 302 for managing arrangement conditions of the datarelay processing unit at the transmission path, an occupied circuitmanagement part 303 for recording as an occupied circuit and managing asequence of data relay processing units for which transmission bands arereserved between terminals for sending and receiving data and anoccupied circuit control part 304 for controlling and managing each ofthose parts.

Next, FIG. 9 shows a diagram for describing information managed by theoccupied circuit management unit. The arrangement information managementpart 302 shown in FIG. 8 manages where each of the data relay processingunits 31 is connected for the neighboring data relay processing unit.

In an example of FIG. 9 the data relay processing unit 901 is connectedto the data relay processing units 902 and 903. For example, as aprotocol for conveying routing information among routers which is arelay unit for packets in the Internet field among the routers, RIP(Routing Information Protocol) or OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) havebeen used conventionally. In the present invention, conveying protocolof route information such as RIP or OSPF may be used for arrangementinformation of the data relay processing unit.

The reservation condition management part 301 manages information onreserved bands or allocable remaining bands for each of the data relayprocessing units. In an example of FIG. 9 the data relay processing unit901 is allocated as bands of 10M. Information on bands may be a sum oftransmission bands for each of the data relay processing units orallocation information for individual application.

The allocable remaining bands have 30M. The occupied circuit managementpart 303 records as an occupied circuit or manages a sequence of thedata relay processing units where transmission bands are reserved amongterminals for sending and receiving data. In an example of FIG. 9 thedata relay processing units 901, 902, and 904 are registered as in thesame route.

For example, in the case where data (image or speech sounds) is sent tothe receiving terminal connected to the data relay processing unit 904from the sending terminal of the data connected to the data relayprocessing unit 901, bands are secured for each of the data relayprocessing units and the data relay unit for relaying data is registeredwith the occupied circuit management part.

After the registration the data is transmitted by relaying the reservedroutes (901→902→904). And in the same way as a method carried out forthe band reservation, information on assign of the occupied circuit inthe past between 2 or more terminals is managed at the occupied circuitmanagement unit and in accordance with the conditions where the occupiedcircuits have been assigned in the past the data relay processing unitsthat the new bands should be reserved or communication price may bedetermined.

For example, it is possible to allow occupied circuits with many numbersof assigns not to generate exchange processing of the new occupiedcircuits as much as possible as for the effective term, the similareffects as described above can be expected. By the number of the assignsadded for each occupied circuit it is possible to prevent the unfairnessof the network usage of rapid deterioration of the transmission quality.

Next, FIG. 10 shows a diagram describing the relationships between anoccupied circuit management unit and a data relay processing unit.

As shown in FIG. 10( a), occupied circuit management units 1001 to 1003may be provided in data relay processing units 1011 to 1013 respectively(diversion type) or as shown in FIG. 10( b) one occupied circuitmanagement unit 1001 may manage a plurality of data relay processingunits 1011 to 1013 (collective type) The former is highly resistant totrouble even when one data relay processing unit is out of order buttraffic for information exchange (such as arrangement conditions alongthe transmission path of a data relay processing unit, reservationconditions of a band of a data relay processing unit, and conditions ofoccupied circuits) increases. The latter, on the contrary, are prone totrouble but can reduce traffic for information exchange.

Next, FIG. 11 shows a diagram describing a method for resolvingcompetition in the case that competition occurs relating to bandreservation among two or more terminals.

For example, in the case that an access request occurs atone server froma plurality of terminal units and a large number of bands occurs thepossibility that requests for many band reservations occur is largerthan the band width in actual existence. In the case that terminal unitswhere competition occurs assign bands to each other and can't resolvethe competition (in the case that bands can't be secured) occupiedcircuits assign themselves (management of bands and occupied circuitsaccording to the guidance of terminal units).

In the case that the security of new occupied circuits is necessarythere is a possibility that a plurality of routes can be selected. Inthe case as for a standard of route selection the judgment whetherreserving or assigning occupied circuits or bands maybe based oninformation on the usage record of occupied circuits or bands, availableassign bands, load conditions of data relay processing units orinformation on assign of bands or occupied circuits.

Between data relay units, a gain function (f) shown as follows may bedefined to determine a data relay unit to relay the next data(management of bands and occupied circuits according to the guidance ofthe data relay processing unit).f=C/(R·B·K)  [Equation 1]

Wherein C is a circuit capacity which is able to be reservation, R is anumber of assigns of occupied circuits, B is a load of the data relayunit and K is a number of assigns of bands.

The gain function shown in Equation 1 is provided based on the followingstrategies. 1) Select a transmission path where the remaining circuitcapacity is large from a data relay processing unit which is connectablefrom its own data relay processing unit, 2) select a circuit where thenumber of assigns of occupied circuits is few (because when the assignincreases as a whole the overhead of assigns cannot be ignored) and, 3)select a data relay unit where a load of the data relay processing unitis small (here a load may be defined as remaining amount of buffer ormay be defined as a processor load for processing data), 4) bands wherethe number of assigns of bands were few in the past becomes the objectof assign. For bands with many assigns as a whole, overhead for assigncannot be ignored.

In addition, by reflecting actual occupied circuits or the past usageefficiency of bands in the gain function as coefficients, it can beexpected to increase the usage efficiency for the whole network.Communication cost may be calculated out based on the gain function.

Lastly, a method for terminal units to provide occupied circuits isdescribed by using FIG. 11 and citing an example.

1) First, as shown in Step 1101 of FIG. 11 each terminal unit selectsroutes individually with the algorithm of Dykstra (one method ofalgorithm seeking the shortest route) in accordance with gainrequirement of occupied circuits (usage band, terminals where requestshave occurred, terminals at the opposite end of the connection (normallya server)) generated by the user request and reports the request forallocating bands to the occupied circuit management part (for exampleselect a route with a big gain from the gain function in the foregoing).

As for a method for passing data through the determined route, in thecase of the Internet, source routing can be utilized. That is to say, byhaving described all of the IP addresses of a passing router in advancethe data can be passed through the determined route.

2) And as shown in Step 1102 of the same Fig, with respect to acompetition route, the terminal unit which has detected the competitionfor the first time negotiates individually with all of the competitorsto gain the route information competitors are competing for (for exampleinformation that each data relay processing unit or the occupied circuitmanagement unit manages such as assigns of bands or occupied circuits).

3) Next, as shown in Step 1103 of the same Fig, the terminal unit whichhas detected the competition for the first time determines the deviationcircuit based on gained information (for example a route with biggergain function is selected).

4) And as shown in Step 1104 of the same Fig, in the case that thecompetition cannot be resolved, the result of the deviation circuit isreported to the data relay processing unit where competing routes areutilized.

5) Next, the relay processing unit to which the deviation circuit isreported eliminates its own route (rejection may become possible). Thatis to say as shown in Step 1105 of the same Fig, the relay processingunit to which the deviation circuit is reported eliminates the routesbetween the sections where terminal units of the competitors other thanthe terminal unit that has detected the competition for the first timeare competing.

6) And their own routes are searched in reference to the competitorsdeviation circuits. That is to say, as shown in Step 1106 of the sameFig, the terminal units of the competitors other than the terminal unitwhich has detected the competition for the first time search their ownnew routes based on the deviation circuits shown by the terminal whichhas detected the competition for the first time.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12 the data relay processing units themselves maygain arrangement condition of the data relay processing unit, thereservation conditions of the bands, the setting conditions of theoccupied circuits so as to determine the data relay processing units tobe relayed next (setting of the transmission bands or occupied circuits)(FIG. 12( a)). The terminal unit may also determine the data relayprocessing unit to be relayed in the same way (FIG. 12 b).

As shown in FIG. 10( a) an occupied circuit management unit may beprovided for each data relay processing unit (diversion type), as shownin FIG. 10( b), one occupied circuit management unit may manage aplurality of data relay processing units (collective type).

The present invention may possibly be applied to not only the Internetbut also to the networks where band reservations are possible at thedata link level such as ATM or IEEE 1394.

A program to make computers carry out all, or part of, the respectivesteps described in the above mentioned mode can be recorded in arecording medium such as a magnetic disc or an optical disc to form aprogram recording medium. By using such a program recording medium andby installing said program to a computer the same processing asdescribed above may be carried out. In this case the same effect asdescribed above can be gained.

The present invention may also be implemented in a software manner byusing a computer or may be implemented in a hardware manner through theconfiguration of specified circuits.

As described above, according to the present invention, with respect tothe above mentioned problem (1) by using information on a term wheretransmission bands can be assigned or exchanged and on necessary costsat the time of usage schedule of network resources or a transmissionband reservation as a usage record, the managing of transmission bandsand communication price based on the usage schedule or the usage recordby the users of the transmission bands is performed, and usageefficiency of the transmission path can be expected to increase.

With respect to problem (2), in the case that a plurality oftransmission resources are selectable when reserving transmissionresources (bands), by utilizing information on goodness of fitexhibiting the possibility of selection for each transmission resourcewhich is able to be processed and information of the deadline time ofselection, and by reporting goodness of fit between resources wheretransmission resource reservations are possible, the setting of thecommunication price at the time of resource usage is prevented fromrising so as to increase the usage efficiency of the transmission path.

In addition, by dynamically changing the advertisement intervals of theroute information according to the processing conditions (loads ofterminals, buffer capacity utilized for data processing, transmissionquality, available transmission band width) of the terminals withrespect to relay processing of the data, it becomes easy to excludeterminals carrying out relay processing of overloaded data from theobject. By doing this it becomes possible to carry out relay processingof data by easily selecting terminals of relay processing for datawithout high loads, and therefore it can be expected to increase theusage efficiency of the transmission path as a whole network.

By doing this in accordance with usage schedules or usage conditions oftransmission quality or resources (transmission bands) of the network,the usage efficiency of the resources of the whole network is increasedby allocating the transmission bands or determining the communicationprice.

FIG. 13 shows a diagram for describing a method for carrying out bandreservations according to the present invention.

As for rules for classifying packets in the band management part 1101,classifications or the like by addresses (for example addresses or IPaddresses of the sources, IDs which are able to recognize types of flow)or port numbers, protocol types (for example UDP, TCP, HTTP, or RTP) canbe considered.

Those classification rules are described in the packet classificationrules 1102 and, based on these classification rules, for example apacket classification part 1103 for classifying packets with the sameaddress, IP address, to the same processing groups is provided (insteadof the same address, IP address, IP packets delivered to the same subnetor multicast address may be classified into the same processing group).

According to the band reservation rule 1104 describing rules forreserving transmission bands, regulations for transmission quality aredescribed. For example, packet loss ratio, delay time and jitter aredescribed. In the band reservation part 1105 the transmission bandsdynamically are secured for packet groups classified to the sameprocessing group so as to satisfy the transmission quality described inthe band reservation rule means 1104. For example, in the case that thetransmission band of IP packets having the same address, IP address uses1 Mbps and the description of the band reservation rules should controlthe packet loss ratio to become 0%, the band reservation part 1105reserves the transmission band of 1 Mbps.

In the case that the transmission band of IP packet having the sameaddress, IP address, fluctuates greatly, the observed average assignband is secured and whenever the average assign band fluctuates greatlythe reserved assign bands may be changed to have the required quality.In the case that IP packets with the applicable IP address cannot beobserved, the transmission is supposed to be completed and thereservation of bands are opened.

In the case that a plurality of address, IP addresses, exist (in thecase of the existence of a plurality of receiving terminals), becausethere is an upper limit to the transmission bands which are able to bereserved, it is necessary limit bands to be able to be reserved. As forthat method a method for describing absolute band width that is able toallocate for each address, IP address (may include protocol types orport numbers), a method for describing relative ratio (percentage or thelike) or a method for describing the order of priority for allocationcan be considered.

In the case that the order of priority is described, a method exists forallocating necessary assign bands following the order of addresses, IPaddresses, from high priority (there is a possibility that atransmission band may not be allocated to addresses, IP addresses, of alow priority order), and a method exists for determining a ratio of theupper limit of the bands allocated for each address, IP address, base onthe order of priority.

FIG. 14 shows a diagram for describing a method for adding priorityinformation to IP packets.

In the case that the priority transmission is processed within thetransmission band which has been reserved (1110), it becomes a problemto add priority information to IP packets. With the same address IPpacket, a priority addition part 1107 is provided for adding a priorityto IP packets based on priority addition rules 1106 for managing thestandard for adding a priority and the standard for adding priority.

As for the standard for adding the priority, a method for havingdetermined a priority to be added in advance based of the IP address ofthe sender, port number and protocol type and a method for dynamicallychanging by the indication of the user are considered (the userindicates the IP address of the source, port number and protocol typesof which the priorities are desired to be raised).

The priority processing unit 1109 is a module where the priority ofprocessing of packets is carried out based on priority processing rule1108 added to IP packets such as DiffServ.

FIG. 15 shows a diagram describing a method for adding priorityinformation at the terminal unit 1111 for carrying out informationdispatch.

In an example of the figure instead of adding priority information afterthe classification for each address, IP address, the terminal unit 1111for carrying out information dispatch adds priority information. Theadvantage of the configuration in FIG. 14 is that it doesn't need afunction to add priority information to a terminal unit for carrying outinformation dispatch.

The advantage of the configuration of FIG. 15 is that it doesn't need afunction to collect packets for each address, IP address, in thepriority processing control part 1110.

FIG. 16 shows a diagram for describing a method for adding priority.

In an example of the Fig, priority of the terminals, priority for eachmedium (for example priority is added to every media such as image,speech sound), priority for each frame (for example a priority is addedto each of the intraframes or interframes of images, as for speechaddition of priority is changed between voiced parts and unvoiced parts)are allocated with 2 bits each from the top bit in sequence. It is notnecessary to utilize all of those priorities as priority of terminals,priority for each medium or priority of each frame.

As is clear from the above description, the present invention as listedfrom one to thirteen has an advantage where the usage efficiency of theresources of the whole network can be further increased.

Next, an information drop unit and an information drop method of thepresent mode according to the present invention as listed from fourteento nineteen are described in reference to the drawings. In thisspecification, the word “contents” means multimedia information such asimage, speech and text.

FIG. 17 shows a diagram illustrating the first mode of an informationdrop unit according to the invention which carries out packet drops inaccordance with the processing priority added to the contents. Theinformation drop unit in FIG. 17 comprises priority correspondingmanagement part 1 for making the processing priority added to thecontents correspond to the priority field of the packets in the Internetprotocol in the contents (contents such as moving images, speech, andtext) divided into packets of Internet protocols (abbreviated as IPpacket hereinafter) and a drop class management part 2 for classifyingpackets into drop classes having at least two or more different dropprobability based on the priority added to the packet and for droppingsaid packet according to the network load.

The priority corresponding management part 1 may be at either thesending terminal side or the receiving terminal side or may be at thegateway or the router.

The feature of dropping (the drop class management part 2) may useDiffServ as shown in FIG. 18. FIG. 24 shows that example. That is to sayin the LAN within the premises a plurality of monitoring cameras AVCodec1-AVCodecN, Web and DiffServ exist, and AV data outputted from eachapparatus are inputted to DiffServ. The output from the DiffServ is sentto a receiving terminal such as a private home through the ISDN circuit.This application is an example applied for a gateway with differenttransmission bands.

FIG. 18 shows a diagram for describing a basic operation of DiffServ. Asfor a mechanism for dropping IP packets, a structure of DiffServ (apacket drop processing technology using a priority field of IP packets)standardized at IETF can be utilized.

This DiffServ comprises, as shown in FIG. 18, drop classes with fourdifferent drop probabilities, and each class has a queue of threedifferent drop probabilities.

Fig 19 shows a diagram for describing a method for making priority ofthe contents correspond to IP packets which is carried out at the abovementioned drop class management part 2. In an information drop unitshown in Fig 17 for the standard of the priority the priority 34 :relative priority in each content) based on the types of stream such asimages, speech or control information and the priority 35 (framepriority (4 bits): relative priority in each stream) based on types offrames 311-31N and 321-32N of image or speech exist.

For the priority of types of frames 4 bits are allocated with “0” beingthe highest priority. For the priority of types of streams 4 bits areallocated with “15 (=2**4−1)” being defined as the highest processingpriority.

On the other hand, to show the priority of IP packets only 5 bits areallocated. Therefore, to make the processing priority of the two typesadded to images or speeches as described above correspond to thepriority of IP packets, processing priority added for types of streamsand a processing priority added for types of frames are devised to beadded with offset values.

In an example of FIG. 19 as shown in Equation 1, by setting the offsetvalue at 16, it becomes possible to make two types of processingpriority added to contents corresponding to 5 bits of processingpriority of IP packets (in the case that it is applied to MPEG4, it iscalled AU (Access Unit) priority). There are 1 to 31 stages.AU priority=stream priority-frame priority+16  [Equation 1]

The processing priority may not be a type of small unit such as a flamebut may be a collective unit to be added with a certain dimension offrame such as GOB defined in MPEG 1. In addition, in the case of contextchapters or clauses maybe units. Moreover, priority of terminals maybetaken into consideration.

FIG. 20 shows a diagram describing an operation carried out continuouslyat the above mentioned drop class management part 2 as shown in FIG. 17.As described above when the addition 42 of the processing priority 41 toIP packet is completed, in the case that DiffServ is used, it isseparated into drop classes 43 with twelve stages.

As for the field for the processing priority of IP packets, ToS field isutilized in the case of IPv4 and a field of traffic class is utilized inthe case of IPv6.

FIG. 21 shows a diagram illustrating the second mode of an informationdrop unit according to the present invention. This mode is a unit fordropping of IP packets according to the processing priority added to thecontents as described above within the drop class predetermined betweenthe sender and receiver.

The information drop unit according to this mode comprises a prioritycorresponding management part 501 for making the processing priorityadded to the contents correspond to apriority field of the packets ofthe contents divided into those packets of the Internet protocol, thefirst drop class management part 502 for classifying packets into thepreviously indicated first drop class based on the priority added to thepackets in the above way, and the second drop class management part 503for dropping packets according to the network load by classifying saidpackets into the second drop class having two or more different dropprobabilities set respectively for the first drop class.

As for a method for allocating packets to the previous assigned firstdrop class, as described above, there is a method for classifying withthe sender's address, the sender's port address, the receiver's addressor the receiver's port address, in addition to that classifying withtypes of packets, types of protocols such as UDP/TCP http.

FIG. 22 shows a diagram for describing the operation of an informationdrop unit shown in FIG. 21. When the addition of the processingprecedent 61 to IP packets is completed the packets are written in thepriority field 62 and go to the first drop class 63 which is previouslyassigned and classified to the drop class with three stages at DiffServbased on the priority added to the IP packet. As for a method of thepresent mode, compared to the method of the first mode described in FIG.17 in the case of small width of the fluctuating value of the processingpriority that is added it operates more effectively than that of FIG.17. In the same way as FIG. 17, the priority system of the terminals maybe taken into consideration.

FIG. 23 shows a view illustrating the third mode of an information dropunit according to the present invention.

The present mode has the same configuration as the information drop unitof the second mode shown in FIG. 21 but has a different method forclassifying IP packets into drop classes. An information drop unitaccording to the present mode comprises a priority correspondingmanagement part 501 for making processing priority 71 added with thetype of stream of the contents and the processing priority 72 added withthe type of frames correspond to priority field 73 of packets of theInternet protocol, a first drop class management part 502 forclassification into the first drop class 74 having two or more differentdrop probabilities and a second drop class management part 503 forclassifying each of the first drop class 74 into the second drop class75 having two or more different drop probabilities and for droppingpackets according to the network load based on the processing priorityadded with the type of frames or by the set unit of a predetermined sizeof frame (for example GOB in MPEG1 and units of chapters or clauses incontext). Here the priority system of the terminals instead of theprocessing priority system 71 added with the stream may be allocated anda stream priority system instead of the frame priority system may beallocated.

In reference to FIG. 21 the operation of the mode is described next. Twotypes of processing priority added to the contents (stream priority 71and frame priority 72) are respectively described in a region 73 of theprocessing priority of the IP packet independently (4 bits of the streampriority is changed to 3 bits and 4 bits of the frame priority ischanged to 2 bits). At that time lowered precision of the prioritycannot be avoided.

Next, the IP packet is classified into the first drop class 74 with fourstages following the stream priority 71 described in the processingpriority. And the classified IP packets are respectively classified intothe second drop class 75 with three stages following the frame priority72. Compared to other systems, this system has the advantage that it ispossible to clearly assign a drop class by the priority described in thecontents.

Though in the above described mode the processing priority added to thecontents are made to correspond to the IP packets, according to thepresent invention it may be made to correspond to packets of RTP (RealTime Assign Protocol) (for example, by using an extension field).

The packet drop feature according to the present invention is notnecessarily limited to the above described DiffServ.

Though the priority utilized in the present invention is a combinationof the priority of the stream and the priority with respect to frames inthe above described mode, it is not necessarily limited to that but maybe a combination of all the priority by the kinds of terminals, thepriority of the streams and the priority of the frames or may be acombination the priority of the terminals, the priority of the streamsor the priority of streams. In addition, the port number or applicationunit, the priority of user units may be taken into consideration.

The priority utilized in the present invention may be sent externallyfrom a monitoring camera or the like or may be allocated by DiffServ.

As described above according to the present invention it becomespossible to process with more flexibility than the conventional methodthrough an information drop method for dropping said packets accordingto the network loads.

1. A data relay processing method comprising the steps of, sendingpieces of information from a plurality of respective terminals,including a piece of information on a schedule of usage of atransmission band by the beginning of a predetermined term, anotherpiece of information on a schedule of the transmission band which isavailable to be assigned at the time of the beginning of thepredetermined term, another piece of information on a schedule betweenthe beginning and end of the predetermined term defining a duration ofthe predetermined term where the transmission band is available to bepartially assigned or partially exchanged by the beginning of thepredetermined term, maintaining constant from the beginning of thepredetermined term and during the entire duration of the predeterminedterm each respective schedule of each respective terminal; based on theschedule of usage, the schedule of transmission band, the schedule ofpredetermined term, and the communication price partially reserving orpartially assigning the transmission band between the respectiveterminals, recording a processing record comprising past partialassignments and partial exchanges by each terminal, transmitting therecorded processing record to each respective terminal within anannouncement distance range during an announcement time interval,partially assigning and partially exchanging a predetermined amount ofthe transmission band between the plurality of respective terminals atthe time of the beginning of the predetermined term for maximizing theusage efficiency of all the available transmission band during thepredetermined term duration based on the schedule of usage of thetransmission band and the schedule of the transmission band which isavailable to be assigned, and controlling the announcement range andannouncement interval by the processing record.
 2. A data relayprocessing method according to claim 1 wherein, based on historyinformation of the past processing record with respect to processes ofpartially assigning or partially exchanging of the transmission bandbetween said respective terminals and based on information with respectto said transmission band, said transmission band is, partially assignedor partially exchanged.
 3. A data relay processing method according toclaim 1 or 2 wherein, the information sent from each terminal is storedin respective terminals; and the transmission band available to beassigned, defined by the piece of information from one terminal on aschedule of the transmission band which is available to be assigned, isassigned to or exchanged with an other terminal based on the informationstored in respective terminals, thereby connecting the one terminal andthe other terminal to a server.
 4. A data relay processing methodaccording to claim 1 or 2 wherein, the information sent from eachterminal is stored in respective terminals; and during the term definedby the piece of information from one terminal on a schedule of a termwhere a transmission band is available to be assigned or exchanged, thetransmission band available to be assigned, defined by the piece ofinformation from the one terminal on a schedule of the transmission bandwhich is available to be assigned, is assigned to or exchanged with another terminal based on the information stored in respective terminals,thereby connecting the one terminal and the other terminal to a serverduring the term defined by the piece of information of the one terminalon the schedule of the term where the transmission band is available tobe assigned or exchanged.
 5. A data relay processing method according toclaim 1 further comprising the step of determining whether or not thepartial assignment or the partial exchange of the transmission bandshould be executed, based on necessary cost for the partial assignmentor the partial exchange of the transmission band.